The little horn and the eagle’s wings compared

June 16, 2011

In John’s prophecy of Revelation chapter 12 the woman flies to the wilderness, where she is nourished for “a time, and times, and half.”

Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

John’s use of the phrase “a time, times and a half” links his prophecy to the 7th chapter of Daniel, where that phrase appears in Daniel 7:25. It is the time in which the little horn, that appears among the 10 horns of the fourth beast, has dominion over the saints.

Below is a table comparing the little horn and the two wings of an eagle that are given to the woman.

Little horn

Two wings of an eagle

time, times and a half

time, times and a half

appears among the 10 horns of the fourth beast, which represents the Roman empire

given to the woman, who represents the church

has eyes like the eyes of a man, representing a human viewpoint

the woman is equipped to view things from above, representing a divine point of view

makes war against the saints

woman flies to the wilderness

speaks great words against God

the earth swallows up the serpent’s flood

tries to change times and laws

the woman’s seed keep God’s commandments

The phrase “a time, times and a half” is also mentioned in Daniel 12:7, where that period of time extends to the time when “all these things shall be finished,” or the end of the age, when the power of the saints is scattered. Thus, Daniel’s prophecies indicate that this prophetic period extends from the days of the Roman empire, to the end of the age. But the little horn “thinks to change times and laws.” The meaning of the “time, times and a half” is attacked, typically by denial that it applies to the church, or to the present age.

The phrase “a time, times and a half” implies two kinds of units. If that was not the case, why would it not simply be stated as three times and a half? But it is never expressed in that manner. Clearly, one of the “times” differs from the rest. This is confirmed when the two numbers that Daniel provided to represent it, the 1,290 days, and the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-12, are broken down into their component months and years. Both numbers fit the pattern of “a time, times and a half,” and include years of 12 and 13 months, where one year differs from the rest.

The 1,290 days is intermediate between the 1,335 days, and the 1,260 days introduced by John in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6. These numbers all represent the time remaining in the church age, and they all terminate at the end of the age. None of them conform to a natural or literal three and a half years, showing they must be understood as figures or symbols. John’s use of 1,260 days indicates that the 1,290 days had already begun, when the Apocalypse was compiled, while he was an exile on Patmos. Tradition says this was about 95 AD.

Daniel said that the remaining time, after the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the abomination of desolation set up, would be 1,290 days.

Daniel 12:11-12
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

The daily sacrifices ceased when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. After that, the beginnings of the “little horn” emerged. John said, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” [1 John 2:18]

Thus, the 1,335 days spans the entire period of the church, from the crucifixion to the end of the age. Jesus Christ is the one who waits. The “time, times and a half” completes the week in which he confirms the covenant with his church, which is a marriage covenant. The 1,290 days spans the period since the daily sacrifices ceased, and the abomination of desolation was set up, which occurred some time between 70 AD and the writing of the Apocalypse. The 1,260 days could possibly represent the time remaining for the church after the writing of the Apocalypse on the island of Patmos. The writing of the Apocalypse completed the New Testament canon, and the ministry of the two witnesses is for 1,260 days.